aptain, looking blandly round. "Ah,
you. Well, sir, this is a serious charge to make; _let_ us hear what
you have to say. This is not a sworn examination, but what you say will
be taken down, and the boy you accuse will have a right to ask any
question. Now, sir."

Mr Jarman, thereupon, with very bad grace, for he felt that the
magistrate's tone was not cordial, related how he was walking in the
court at such and such an hour, when he saw a boy attempting to enter
the gymnasium. That he stopped him and demanded his name. That the boy
pushed past him and entered the gymnasium. Upon which Mr Jarman turned
the key on the outside in order to detain him there, by way of
punishment. That the boy began to kick at the door, and after half an
hour broke it open and made his escape. That the boy was Tempest, and
that scarcely two minutes after he had left, and just after Mr Jarman,
having stayed to examine the damage to the door, had turned to go away,
the explosion occurred; that he heard a cry from young Sugden, the
lodge-keeper's son, who was passing at the time, and was thrown
violently forward against the railings, cutting his head badly.

"How do you know the boy was Tempest?" asked the magistrate.

"I recognised him in the dark," said Mr Jarman. "In fact, I expected
him."

"Expected him?"

"Yes, he had sent his fag for a jacket just previously, and I had sent
the fag back."

"Why?"

"Boys are not allowed to enter the gymnasium after dark."

"Is that a rule of the school?"

"It is my rule."

"Does it apply to senior boys as well as juniors?" asked Tempest.

"I am responsible for the gymnasium, and--"

"That is not the question," said the magistrate. "Have you ever allowed
senior boys in the gymnasium after dark?"

"I may have; but I forbade Tempest to enter last night."

"What harm was there in his fetching his coat, if it was not against
rules?"

"It was against rules to go in when I told him not."

"Well, well," said Captain Rymer, "that is a matter that need not detain
us. Have you any more questions, Mr Tempest?"

"Yes, please, sir. You said you were expecting me, Mr Jarman. What
made you do that?"

"I expected, from my knowledge of your conduct, that you would come and
try and get the blazer."

"When have I disobeyed you before?"

"You know as well as I do, Tempest."

"Yes, but I don't," said the magistrate. "Answer the question."

Mr Jarman thereupon gave his version of the